1801半身像半美元 NGC AU 58+

1801半身像半美元 NGC AU 58+

1801 Draped Bust Half Dollar. O-102, T-1. Rarity-4+. AU-58+ (NGC).，A truly exceptional example of this scarce die marriage with splashes of turquoise and golden iridescence against pearlescent surfaces. Satiny mint luster glistens across each side, remaining particularly comprehensive on the reverse. The strike is nicely centered and overall sharp, with just traces of softness at the lower right obverse as is typical for this marriage. Libertys hair is intricate and the shield stripes are nicely defined. Small scattered ticks are visible with a glass but disappear to the naked eye, delivering a delightful complexion that certainly approaches Mint State.<p>The Overton 102 variety is the scarcer of the two die marriages employed to strike half dollars in 1801, each pairing a shared obverse die with a distinct reverse. The O-102 variety is readily identifiable by 12 arrows in the eagles claw and the joining of the first A in AMERICA to the adjacent feathers. This reverse die was also used again to strike coins the following year. <p>The present example is a significant offering for specialists, ranking second in the Condition Census for the O-102 variety behind the MS-64 (NGC) Green-Newman specimen. The balance of the Census comprises a handful of AU and Choice AU examples, though nothing quite approaching this near-Mint piece. The legendary and comprehensive Queller Family Collection of U.S. Half Dollars (Stacks 2002) failed to include an example of this rare variety, stressing the truly elusive nature of this pairing. This piece also maintains a Condition Census ranking for the overall 1801 issue, and is certified just slightly finer than the AU-58 (PCGS) Eliasberg-Pogue example (O-101). Last offered in our (Bowers and Merenas) Frontenac Sale of November 1991 nearly three decades ago, the present specimen is an aesthetic delight and a treat for both specialists and type collectors. One of many such treats in the Sutton Court Collection.<p><em></em><em>Remarks from the Consignor:</em> As scarce as 1801 half dollars are, I dare say that collectors have not come to appreciate the rarity of the O-102 variety. The reverse die used for this coin was also used to strike the entire output of 1802 half dollars. It could not have survived this long if it had struck many half dollars in 1801, and from this we can assume the 1801 O-102 variety had just a small mintage at the end of the year. I have searched long and hard for a high grade O-102 and this is certainly among the best survivors of this issue.<p>，From the Sutton Court Collection of Early Half Dollar Varieties. Earlier ex from our (Bowers and Merenas) Frontenac Sale, November 1991, lot 3021.，